tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post1508080255493061208..comments2024-03-17T03:17:43.229-04:00Comments on David Anthony Durham: Listen to George... You Know You Should!David Anthony Durhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-14966881775716337282008-02-28T17:47:00.000-05:002008-02-28T17:47:00.000-05:00Steven,Yes, I was referring to Lloyd Alexander. I ...Steven,<BR/><BR/>Yes, I was referring to Lloyd Alexander. I guess he's not quite a single name author, but he does have a fond place in my memories. Actually, one of his Pyrdain books was the first I ever read in one day. I don't remember which, but I do remember the feeling of accomplishment. He was very much a part of the time in my life when I really fell in love with reading.David Anthony Durhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-64609206784690922082008-02-28T16:23:00.000-05:002008-02-28T16:23:00.000-05:00It was kind of the same with me. I had this idea f...It was kind of the same with me. I had this idea for a novel, and I had been working on it for 3 years and had already written 2 drafts. Then someone suggested I read George Martin, and I felt like he was doing something similar to what I was trying to do, almost like a historical fantasy of sorts, and from that point forward, he has been an influence in the subsequent drafts and the style of my writing/novel. <BR/><BR/>You mentioned Alexander as one of the authors you read growing up? Are you referring to Lloyd Alexander (The Chronicles of Pyrdain)? I loved his stuff. I really got into him during my junior high years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-27682165252159612482008-02-27T15:43:00.000-05:002008-02-27T15:43:00.000-05:00The Martin comment on the book was a quote from th...The Martin comment on the book was a quote from the Library Journal review. It was an awesome, mega-generous quote that actually wrapped in comparisons to Martin, LeGuin and Kay all at once. I was happy.<BR/><BR/>As for the influence stuff... He wasn't an influence in my decision to move into fantasy. I only read him after I'd committed, signed, and even written Acacia. The basic premise of the story - with the siblings being sent to the hiding, etc - had been with me for years. If any writers were an influence on my deciding to to write the book it's the ones I read growing up - LeGuin, Tolkein, Alexander - and writers of really smart science fiction, like Herbert, Butler, Stephenson. Neil Gaiman, too. I don't write like any of those folks, but they all inspired me in some important ways.<BR/><BR/>With Martin, I hadn't separated him out from the large pack of epic fantasy writers until Acacia was done and delivered. That was when I read A Game of Thrones for the first time. I loved it. From the first lines I was won over completely and knew I'd found a writer I felt a lot of kinship with. That's remained the case as I've read more, both of Ice and Fire and of his science fiction. I'd been reading a lot of other fantasy, but nothing gripped me like Ice and Fire. I can't imagine being part of the genre without him now.<BR/><BR/>So, he didn't get me started, but he's definitely an influence and inspiration now.David Anthony Durhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158536.post-44701780500217163872008-02-27T11:53:00.000-05:002008-02-27T11:53:00.000-05:00High compliment, in my opinion, to be mentioned by...High compliment, in my opinion, to be mentioned by George R.R. Martin. Congrats. In fact, when I first picked up your book Acacia in the bookstores, I noticed there was either a quote from George Martin about your novel or a reference to your writing being like Martin -- I can't remember which. Has Martin, in fact, been an influence at all in your move into the fantasy genre?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com